Kitsch Wines is asking the city for permission to move

Photo: Google Maps

If city council gives its approval, Kitsch Wines will be on the move.

Owners of the East Kelowna-based winery have applied for a non-farm use for property they purchased on East Kelowna Road, near the site of the current winery on Neid Road.

Winery owners Trent and Maria Louise Kitsch are in the process of planting 5.7 hectares of grapes, as they transition the property to grapes from a fruit orchard.

However, the grapes will not be mature enough for harvest requiring an application for a non-farm use.

"The Agricultural Land Commission requires at least two hectares of grapes to be planted and ready for production on the subject site for the winery to be considered a ‘farm use’," staff indicate in its report for council.

The Kitsch's do have more than five hectares of grapes planted at their other properties.

"If the proposed non-farm use application is approved it would facilitate the relocation of the existing winery from its current location at 3330-3340 Neid Road to the subject site.

"The proposed use would only be considered a non-farm use until the grapes currently planted on site become mature enough to meet ALC threshold regulations."

The application also states a second building on the new property for farm help would be demolished and replaced by a winery building.

Staff are recommending the non-farm use application.